end of day - monday

doors, check.

windows, check.

stall doors, check.

we're getting there!

Starting Point - Monday

The barn will look very different at the end of the day (if the carpenters get what they hope to get done today). So, here's what it looks like right now. I'll of course post another photo with progress later today!

fun progress

Sunday: the gator tried to fit into the barn. No go--- too much carpentry going on inside. That's OK. Dressed up (cut small trees, cleared debris, A LOT of sweat) perimeter riding path along one side of the field, built a small yet super fun log jump (optional, there is a way around it which is also fun) and wood chip covered the path area. It looks VERY fun, and smells SO Good!! I place my hay, grain and bedding order tomorrow. WOW! If I'm ready (more like, if the carpenter is ready) I'll order buckets, stall mats and whatever else too.

barn and mackie

Barn bits are coming together. Stall windows, barn door, stall doors and transom window are all set inside and ready to be installed. It's all pretty awesome. The leaves are starting to turn already, as you can see from the photo where Mackie is posing. :)

finishing up...

It's pouring today. The guys are working inside.

Love the loft!

it got dark

We worked on the top field until dark. Too dark for a photo update. Mackie hung out with us, he was working on his farm dog skills.

barn progress update

There is not much more to do: stall windows, loft door, front door, stall doors... then I have to get a lot done: buckets, stall mats, bedding, hay, grain, wow! And, then back to more fencing installation. I do wonder how it is all going to happen.

yep, this is big enough

Java in the indoor ring at her friend's house down the street where she is staying for now. She likes to roll in here. Beautiful barn progress today, end of day pictures to come.

more barn progress

The carpenters are really focusing this week. The outside looks pretty much the same this morning, for now, but the inside is coming along! I'll keep you posted, probably more photos to come mid-day!

we have germination

We have germination. After the barn site was cleared of trees, then cleared of rocks, then cleared of roots, then cleared of trucks, we busted our butts spreading every ounce of nutritious dirt we could find on what will become another paddock. Not as large at the top field, but a nice grassy spot to spend a day, some day. Well, we have germination. Yes, this is endophyte free seed (better for the horses), purchased from the Tractor Supply Company, aka TSC. My buddies at the extension center that CT has set up for farmettes like us helped me choose the right seed for Java and her buddies. Next spring and summer, this will be LUSH. :)

Practicing patience and understanding

So, the timeline on this barn is unheard of fast, and that is awesome. Today up went the loft railing and more of the stalls. It looks great, I'm very pleased with the quality of the work that was done today, very nice job today. I can honestly say that today's work was beautiful and some of the best I've seen during the entire project.

Odd, but it's really hard to build custom. I really just want a great barn, built well and good quality. But, when I see each piece go up, I get really picky. And, that's the part that is hard. Do you mention the things that you were let down on, or just be glad that the barn is here and Java is home? Both would be great. Sigfridson builds such a great barn, but cannot control the carpenter. Neither can I. I'll wait until the doors and windows come together until I really worry. It may just be that some of the tangible stuff is still unfinished (doors, windows, trim) that some imperfect edges here and there look scary to me. I will practice patience this week. Java is well, happy today, relaxed and confident, and that's the important thing. How zen. :)

top field excitement

Mackie in the top field. Java and I rode home today, it was awesome... she is figuring this out... barn going up, Mackie is here, Mr. Java's Mom is here=I have family here... and this big open area is fenced in, like a big romper room for me, how exciting! It was an exciting ride for sure, careening and leaping with joy with me steering and getting lots of exercise hanging on. She eventually settled down and was pretty proud of herself. Mackie must think she is a big dog, he has no fear of her, or her hooves. And Java has no concept that he is not guaranteed to move just because she has hooves. So I make sure to steer around Mackie. Barn progress photo to come Monday.

update

looking better, looking GREAT!!!!!

... this is the final week coming up. Walls, check. Roof, check. Floor, check. Stalls, nope. Railing in loft nope, windows, some=check some=nope, doors, nope... wow, this will hopefully be a busy week. We took two loads of scraps to the dump and kept a lot for kindling. The site feels more organized and clean now. I love this barn.

wondering

Mackie is sitting in the top field. I might know what he's thinking in this one... "what the heck, they fence this area in, mow it down and here we are. It needs a couple of horses. Hopefully Java, she likes me."

more waiting

I have no idea what he is thinking in this picture.

ready

ready for what's next.

current status

Current status: coming along.

I'm eager to get this spot spruced up and organized, and then filled with hay and horses. The air is getting quite crisp already, Java will be psyched to have a new cozy barn and hopefully won't trash it on day 1.

mackie

My car is serving as a vestibule for some of Java's stuff right now, until I have a barn to put the stuff into. It smells like fly spray and dirty horse gear. Mackie likes it because he likes Java and wants her to come home and join him as a 4 legged resident - that and it is cozy back there. He is almost impossible to get out of the car sometimes and will spend hours in the back like this - with the car just sitting in the driveway.

Sigfridson visit

Oh good! Evan Sigfridson came by to drop off more materials for the carpenters and explain a few things. The saw noises are getting more frequent, that is good. October 1 is so close, this is a little crazy. It will all workout, and it's going to be awesome! I'm so lucky, and Java will be so happy. Mackie is supervising every little detail.

what happened here?

All I know is that I got home, and it looks like the carpenters were abducted by aliens. Or, there was a big party, or a tornado blew through here. I am going to think good thoughts like: they are so talented that they are messy. Or, this is just a phase. Or, that it's no big deal and the barn will be completed beautifully within two weeks. Yeah... that's it. But, hey, the roof looks good! I know this could be a lot worse and that the barn is going to be great. I hope to see some more of that mach 10 progress they were making at the start of this. I know they can do it. It's for Java!

Dirt progress

No barn progress over the weekend, so you get photos of dirt. We made a lot of progress with one of the new paddocks. Using the John Deere 2305 and it's handy attachments and Jeremy's tractor driving talent in prime shape this weekend we cleared out roots and rocks, graded the soil, added mulch (wet, heavy, exhausting) then seeded. Seeding was like spreading fairy dust over dirt and mulch, and hoping that grass grows, please!! Then we spread some hay over the seed where we did not mulch. Oh, then we spread some new wood chips in path areas. We laid out rope and blocks to keep the carpenter off the grass that is spared so far, the carpenter seems to like to drive on the grass(!!). We're only about 2 weeks away from Java coming home, we are so excited!

Hang in there...

Hang in there, it will start to look less lonely someday. This may be the barn's growing pains phase, it should start to come together with windows, stalls, more paint, etc.

I'm ready for this to be done.

The barn is so nice. We love it. The excavator, carpenters and tree guys were all here today. A Java Barn building extravaganza. End of day photo of current barn status to be posted after I go to visit Java to tuck her in for the night....